Strong winds and cooling temperatures are forecast to bring dust and sand to northern China, with the National Meteorological Center renewing a blue alert for sandstorms on Monday, the lowest level of the four-tier warning system.

Under the influence of cold air and strong winds, blowing sand or dust is forecast from Monday to Tuesday in parts of northern China, with sandstorms expected in parts of the Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions, the center said.

That will pose risks to agriculture, transport and public health, and raise the risk of fires in forests and grasslands, the center said.

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Beijing's blue dust warning was lifted on Monday morning after visibility improved significantly, according to the city's emergency warning center.

The cold air mass remains active. On Monday, temperatures in parts of Northeast China and regions along the Yellow and Yangtze rivers will fall by 6 C to 10 C, with some areas seeing drops of more than 10 C, the center said.

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From Monday to Thursday, a broad area of rain and snow will affect central and eastern China under the combined influence of cold and warm air. Parts of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Heilongjiang province will see light to moderate snow or sleet, with localized heavy snow or blizzards, the center said.